What material primarily composes the skeleton of members within Class Chondrichthyes?
Answer
Cartilage
The skeletons of organisms belonging to the Class Chondrichthyes are primarily composed of cartilage. This is the literal meaning embedded in the class name, derived from Greek roots meaning 'cartilage' and 'fish'. The structural composition of cartilage, compared to true bone, imparts distinct physical properties to these sharks and rays. Specifically, cartilage provides the skeletal framework with greater flexibility and a significantly lower overall density than a bone skeleton would. This lower density contributes directly to the animal's buoyancy, assisting them in maintaining their position in the water column without relying solely on oily livers, which is a characteristic often associated with bony fishes.
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